Trace-fastener.



No. mamas.

J. c. JOHNSON. TRACE FASTENEB.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1901.)

Patented Sept. 3, l90l.

(No Model.)

Inr ntor .55! W literacy UNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. JOHNSON, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

TRACE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,855, datedSeptember3, 1901.

A Application filed January 28, 1901. Serial No. 45,120. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN G. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Trace-Fasteners and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to trace-fasteners, and has for its objectto provide a device of this character which will admit of the tracebeing readily applied to the singletree and quickly and easily detachedtherefrom and which will prevent displacement of the trace when inposition, the trace serving as a locking device to prevent opening ofthe fastener until manually manipulated.

Fora full description ofthe invention and the merits thereof and also toacquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means forefiecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention arenecessarily suscep= tible of modification, still the preferredembodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of the end portion of asingletree, showing the fastener applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear view,the terminal portion of the singletree being in section and the tracebeing illustrated in the position which it will occupy when forming alock for the fastener. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, the tracebeing moved so as to release the fastener and the latter being movedoutward at its free end to admit of the removal of the trace. Fig. at isa cross-section of the singletree and fastener about on the line X X ofFig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The part 1 is a singletree or like part, to which the trace is attachedwhen the horse or draft-animal is harnessed to the vehicle to be drawn.The outer end portion of the singletree tapers in width and thickness toa blunt point, which is adapted to pass readily through the eye of thetrace 2. An opening or depression 3 is formed in the singletree a shortdistance from its extremity, and a tapering channel 4 extends outwardtherefrom.

The fastening consists of a metallic strap 6, secured firmly at itsinner end to a side of the singletree and having its outer or free endportion bent outward or away from the plane of the singletree to form anarch 7, thence recurved, as shown at 8, and its terminal portion bentabout at a right angle, as shown at 9, to enter the opening ordepression 3. The recurved portion 8 fits snugly in the tapering channel4, so as to come about flush with the side of the singletree to whichthe fastening is fitted. The metallic strap 6 is sufficiently stout towithstand the slight strain that may come thereon and is resilient, soas to spring toward the singletree at its free end and normally hold thebent terminal 9 in the opening 3 and the recurved portion 8 in thechannel or seat 4. The arched portion 7 provides a grip to be engaged bythe fingers of the hand when it is required to move the free end of thefastening away from the singletree, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit thetrace 2 to be placed in position or removed from the singletree. Thestrap 6 preferably tapers throughout its length, thereby increasing itsresiliency and adding to the appearance of the fastening.

In practice when it is required to fit the trace 2 to the singletree theouter end portion of the fastening is moved away from the singletree andthe trace is slipped thereon, and when the bent terminal 9 is clearedthe fastening is released and will spring toward the singletree, itsterminal 9 entering the opening 3 and the recurved portion 8 enteringthe channel or seat 4, after which the trace is moved outward, so as toencircle the recurved portion 8 and hold it in its seat and preventoutward displacement of the terminal 9. By having the recurved portion 8coming flush with the side of the sin gletree the eye portion of thetrace is not chafed or worn to the extent which would be occasioned ifthe part 8 projected from the singletree. Moreover, the outer endportion of the fastening is braced by the edges of the part 8 bearingagainst the side walls of the channel or seat 4. When it is required todetach the trace from the singletree, the trace is moved inward to theposition substantially as 'shown in Fig. 3, after which the free endportion is moved outward or away from the plane of the singletree,thereby permitting the trace to be slipped from off thesingletree, as will be readily comprehended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Incombination with a singletree having an opening or depression and alongitudinal channel extending therefrom, a trace-fastening consistingof a metallic strap secured at its inner end to the singletree andhaving its outer end portion bent into an approximately arched form andrecurved, and having its terminal bent outward andadapted to enter theaforesaid opening or depression, the recurved portion of the strapfitting in the channel, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination, a singletrce having its end portion tapering in widthand thickness and having an opening or depression and a channelextending therefrom, a trace-fastening consisting of a metallic strapsecured at its inner end to the singletree and havingits.

JOHN o. JOHNSON. [n s.]

Witnesses:

H. M SUTTON, J OHN M. ST KEs.

